Leicester City Council is set to trial new taxi ranks and passenger pick-up and drop-off bays in a busy part of the city centre from Wednesday 4 February 2026.
The experimental measures will be introduced on St Nicholas Place and Highcross Street, near Jubilee Square, aiming to improve road safety and manage increased passenger demand during peak night-time hours.
Picture credit: Leicester City Council
Under the plans:
- A new 24-hour taxi rank exclusively for Hackney carriages will be established on St Nicholas Place, adjacent to Jubilee Square.
- The existing taxi rank on Highcross Street will be converted into a 24-hour pick-up and drop-off bay, with a maximum waiting time of 10 minutes.
- Loading bays on Highcross Street and St Nicholas Place will change use overnight, between 6pm and 7:30am, to provide safe pick-up and drop-off spaces.
- A layby on Vaughan Way, next to Mosh nightclub, will be modified to add an additional overnight pick-up and drop-off bay.
The new pick-up and drop-off bays will be open to the general public and private hire drivers. Additionally, a red route clearway will be introduced on part of St Nicholas Place, between St Nicholas Circle and Highcross Street, preventing vehicles from stopping outside authorised bays. Enforcement, including through cameras, will apply to any illegal stopping or parking.
The trial will operate under an experimental traffic order until July 2027, with the first six months serving as an objection period. The scheme may be adjusted or made permanent depending on its effectiveness.
Martin Fletcher, Leicester City Council’s director of highways, said: “This is a very busy part of the city centre at night, and it’s important to review arrangements for taxis and private pick-ups and drop-offs to address road safety concerns raised by police. The trial is designed to support drivers and help people get home safely after a night out.”
Full details of the experimental traffic order are available at: www.leicester.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/traffic-regulation-orders
